The Oakland Unified School District’s projected deficit for the 2025-26 fiscal year has grown 9.2% to $95 million, the chief business officer said.
The deficit widened from an earlier estimate of $87 million after salary and benefit increases, negotiated last year, took effect, Lisa Grant-Dawson said in a press release on Friday.
The new figure reflects the total by the end of the fiscal year if the district does nothing now, Grant-Dawson said.
“This deficit, which totals about 10% of the overall district budget with all funds, is a problem that needs to be solved as soon as possible,” she said.
“We have known that this is something that we would face as the historic one-time investments for COVID expired, and as we continue to see declining enrollment in our schools,” Grant-Dawson said.
She encouraged residents to attend the Local Control Accountability Plan Parent and Student Advisory Committee meeting Wednesday and upcoming board meetings.